Abstract

In this paper we report the results of a series of pressure-broadened water vapor absorption measurements at 27 CO₂ laser frequencies between 935 cm⁻¹ and 1082 cm⁻¹. Both multiple traversal cell and optoacoustic (spectrophone) techniques were utilized together with an electronically stabilized cw CO₂ laser. Comparison of the results obtained by these two methods shows remarkable agreement, indicating a precision which has not been previously achieved in pressure-broadened studies of water vapor. The data of 10.59 μm substantiate the existence of the large (>200) self-broadening coefficients determined in an earlier study by McCoy. In this work we have treated the case of water vapor in N₂ at a total pressure of 1 atm. We have also studied water vapor in air and will report those results separately.

© 1979 Optical Society of America

Water vapor absorption coefficients at HF laser wavelengths(2.64–2.93 μm)

Wendell R. Watkins, Robert L. Spellicy, Kenneth O. White, Brian Z. Sojka, and Lanny R. Bower
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Pressure dependence of the water vapor continuum absorption in the 3.5–4.0-μm region

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Appl. Opt. 18(8) 1149-1160 (1979)